Suspicious deaths of notable Russians (2022–2024) explained

Since the beginning of 2022, multiple unusual deaths of Russian businesspeople or high officials, sometimes including their family members, have occurred under what some sources suggest were suspicious circumstances.

Analysis

On 3 June 2022 the Dutch NOS news network described the phenomenon as "a grim series of Russian billionaires, many from the oil and gas industries, who have been found dead under unusual circumstances since early this year. The first was on 30 January, when 60-year-old Leonid Shulman, transport chief for Russian energy giant Gazprom, was found dead in the bathroom of his country house in the Leningrad region. Beside his body was a suicide note." On 6 July 2022, CNN Portugal described the group as "millionaires with direct or indirect links to the Kremlin found dead in a mystery scenario since the beginning of the year". It referred to a previous investigation by USA Today, which concluded that "38 Russian businessmen and oligarchs close to the Kremlin died in mysterious or suspicious circumstances between 2014 and 2017." The phenomenon has been called "sudden Russian death syndrome" or "sudden oligarch death syndrome", a play on sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.[1] [2] A number of them died by falling from heights, including possible defenestrations.[2]

Some commentators ruled out suicides or poor health. Other commentators, including Fiona Hill and Mark Galeotti, are skeptical of such conspiracies. They point out the deaths are not necessarily all connected, and that it is far more likely some really are suicides, and some could be killings by competing influential clans to wipe out competitors without a centralized Kremlin effort.

The suicide rate in Russia is the third-highest in the world, and similar trends have been noted in 2020 about doctors who have treated COVID-19 patients falling from high windows. Suicides could be further increased especially in the Russian business community due to substantial pressure from the war in Ukraine and international sanctions.

Calls for further investigations

Friends and families of the deceased Russian businessmen generally found it "unthinkable" that they killed themselves – and in some cases also their wives and children – and have demanded an independent investigation into the mysterious deaths., the Ukrainian-born ex-vice-chairman of Gazprombank, who left Russia during the outbreak of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and joined the Freedom of Russia Legion, said in an interview with The Insider that he thought that his former colleague Vladislav Avayev's alleged murder of his family and subsequent suicide had been staged: "Why? That is difficult to say. Perhaps he knew something and posed some kind of danger." Likewise, Sergey Protosenya's son, who was not in Spain when his parents and sister were found dead in Lloret de Mar, stated his father was not the perpetrator ("my father is not a murderer"), but that his parents and sister were murdered by someone else. Protosenya was the former CEO of gas giant Novatek, which published a statement saying he was "a real family man", and called on the Spanish authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation.

Businessman and critic of the Russian federal government Bill Browder has opined that Putin is personally ordering executions of influential business leaders in critical sectors whom he feels will not be yes-men and intimidates their successors with threats of death or violence. In Russian mokroye delo or “wet work” is the name given to the business of assassination with people told to commit suicide or they and their families will receive a visitation.[1]

According to an investigative report by Novaya Gazeta, some of the deaths may be connected to large scale accounting fraud by Gazprom executives, who may have funneled money to a network of businesses owned by friends and family members with ties to the FSB and Russian military.

Suspicious deaths

2022

NameAge at deathPositionDate of deathCount of deathsPlace body was discoveredCircumstances
January
Leonid Shulman60Director of Transport of Gazprom30 January 20221 Bathroom of a residence in Leningrad OblastSuicide note found next to his body
February
Igor Nosov43CEO of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV) and former Deputy governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast8 February 20221 MoscowReportedly suffered a stroke
Alexander Tyulakov61Deputy General Director of the Unified Settlement Center of Gazprom25 February 20221 Garage of a residence in Saint PetersburgSuicide note found on his body
Mikhail Watford66Businessman 28 February 20221 Garage of a residence in Surrey, EnglandBritish authorities have not found evidence of a crime
March
Vasily Melnikov43CEO and owner of Medstorm23 March 20224 Apartment in Nizhny NovgorodWife and two sons found dead beside him
April
Vladislav Avayev5118 April 20223 Apartment in MoscowWife and 13-year-old daughter found dead beside him
Sergey Protosenya55Former Deputy Chairman of Novatek.19 April 20223 Garden of a residence in Lloret de Mar, SpainHanged from a handrail; wife and daughter found dead in their beds with blunt axe wounds and stab wounds
May
Andrei Krukovsky37General Director of the Estosadok Krasnaya Polyana, a ski resort owned by Gazprom1 May 20221 Below a cliff near the in SochiReportedly fell off a cliff while hiking to
Alexander Subbotin43[3] Board member of Lukoil8 May 20221 Basement of a Jamaican shaman's residence in MoscowReportedly died from a drug-induced heart attack during a shamanic ritual, though critics allege toad poison
July
Yuri Voronov61CEO of Astra Shipping, a subcontractor of Gazprom 4 July 20221 Swimming pool of a residence in Leningrad OblastGunshot wounds to the head, pistol found next to his body
August
Dan Rapoport52Businessman14 August 20221 2400 M Street NW, Washington, D.C., United StatesFound in the street after an apparent fall from his high rise apartment building
September
Ravil Maganov67Chair of Lukoil1 September 20221 Below a window of the Kremlin Hospital, MoscowReportedly hospitalised for heart problems and depression, then "fell out of a window"[4]
Ivan Pechorin39Director of Aviation of the Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV)10 September 20221 On a beach in Beregovoy, Amur OblastDrowned at Cape Ignatyev, Vladivostok; body found washed up in Beregovoy two days later; allegedly fell from his boat
Vladimir Sungorkin [ru]68Editor-in-chief of Komsomolskaya Pravda 14 September 20221, Khabarovsky District, Khabarovsk KraiReportedly suffered a stroke and suffocated while on the way to lunch
Anatoly Gerashchenko [ru]72Former Head of the Moscow Aviation Institute21 September 20221 Stairway within the Moscow Aviation InstituteReportedly fell down a flight of stairs inside the institute
Pavel Pchelnikov52Director of Digital Logistics, a Russian Railways subsidiary28 September 20221 On the balcony of an apartment in MoscowAllegedly shot himself on the balcony of his apartment
October
Nikolay Petrunin46Deputy of the State Duma12 October 20221 Unnamed hospital in MoscowAlleged complications of COVID-19[5] [6]
November
Vyacheslav Taran53Co-founder of Libertex, a cryptocurrency and foreign exchange market company 25 November 2022[7] 1 Villefranche-sur-Mer, French Riviera, FranceDied in helicopter crash after taking off from Switzerland[8]
Vladimir Makei64Foreign Minister of Belarus (2012–2022)26 November 20221Unknown Reported to have died four days after returning from a Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Armenia accompanying representatives of Vladimir Putin.[9] He was said by his friends to have been "painfully upset" by the collapse of the course he was leading.[10]
December
Grigory Kochenov41Creative Director of Agima, an IT company7 December 20221 Volodarsky Street, Nizhny NovgorodReportedly fell to his death from his balcony while officials from the Investigative Committee executed a search warrant for his apartment[11]
Dmitriy Zelenov50Co-founder of Donstroy, a construction company 9 December 20221 Antibes, French Riviera, FranceReportedly felt ill and fell over a railing and hit his head, later died in hospital without regaining consciousness[12] [13]
Vladimir Bidenov61Business associate and travel companion of Pavel Antov22 December 20221 Hotel Sai International, Rayagada, Odisha, IndiaDied of heart problems; two days later his close companion, Pavel Antov, also died at the same hotel under suspicious circumstances[14] [15]
66Director General of the Admiralty Shipyards24 December 20221 Saint PetersburgDied suddenly the day after he attended the float-out ceremony of the new Lada class submarine . No explanation was given on the cause of death[16]
Pavel Antov65Founder of Vladmirsky Standart, a meat processing company, and deputy (member) of the Legislative Assembly of Vladimir Oblast1 Below a window of Hotel Sai International, Rayagada, Odisha, IndiaFell out of window from Hotel Sai International;[17] another Russian colleague, Vladimir Bidenov, died in the same hotel two days prior.[18] [19]
Alexei Maslov69Former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces and special representative of Uralvagonzavod.[20] 1 Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital, MoscowDied "unexpectedly" in a military hospital, no cause given.[21]
Vladimir Nesterov73Engineer who was general director of the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center28 December 2022[22] 1Unknown

2023

NameAge at deathPositionDate of deathCount of deathsPlace body was discoveredCircumstances
January
Magomed Abdulaev61Former 5 January 20231 Makhachkala, DagestanDied at a hospital after being hit by a car while crossing a street[23]
Dmitry Pavochka49Former manager of Roscosmos, Sukhoi, Lukoil, Bank Menatep and Russdragmet, while presently or formerly involved with many others.26 January 20231 17th floor of a building on Leningradsky Avenue, MoscowBurned alive after falling asleep with a lit cigarette[24]
February
Vladimir Makarov72Former police general in charge of cracking down on anti-war protesters.13 February 20231 At his suburban home northwest of MoscowState-run TASS news agency reported him found dead, in an apparent suicide, following his dismissal by President Vladimir Putin.[25] [26]
Marina Yankina58Head of the financial support department of the Ministry of Defence for the Western Military District.16 February 20231 House on Zamshina Street, St. PetersburgFound dead after falling from a window on the 16th-floor of a high-rise building.[27] [28] [29]
Viatcheslav Rovneiko59Oil magnate, co-founder of Urals Energy, co-owner of Belgian oil company Nafta (B) NV, director of Interregional Fuel Union; ex-KGB spy.22 February 20231 Unspecified gated village near MoscowFound unconscious in his house; subsequent medical help could not save his life.[30] [31]
April
Igor Shkurko49Deputy director of .4 April 20231 Pre-trial detention center in YakutskFound dead in his cell; allegedly suicide.[32]
May
Pyotr Kucherenko46State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation20 May 20231 Mineralnye Vody Airport, Stavropol KraiDied after falling ill on board a flight from Cuba to Russia.[33] [34] [35]
June
Yuri Demin62Former head of the State Inspectorate for Road Safety for the Sverdlovsk Oblast4 June 20231 Sysert, Sverdlovsk OblastFound dead after falling from the second floor of his dacha during construction work.[36]
Artyom Bartenev42Federal Judge of the Kirovsky District Court8 June 20231 Underneath his apartment in Kazan, TatarstanFound dead after falling 12 stories from his apartment window.[37] [38]
Grigory Klinishov92Physicist and co-creator of the Soviet hydrogen bomb RDS-37.17 June 20231 Inside his apartment in MoscowFound dead in his apartment from an apparent suicide, leaving a note.[39] [40]
Kristina Baikova28Vice-president of, head of department for work with corporate clients.24 June 20231 Underneath her apartment in Khodynsky Boulevard, MoscowFell off her apartment at the 11th floor; circumstances of the incident have not yet been clarified.[41]
July
Andrei Fomin57Prosecutor of Chuvashia (since 2020)1 July 20231Fell ill while swimming in the Volga river and drowned.[42] [43]
Aleksey Avramenko46 of Belarus (since 2019)4 July 20231UnknownDied suddenly.[44] [45]
Alexander Nikolayev72Worked for Rosatom since 2016. Former diplomat. 2003–2008 Russian Consul-General in Simferopol, Crimea.July 20231 Konakovo, Tver OblastBeaten up near his home and died three weeks later.[46]
Natalia Bochkareva44Daughter of former Governor of Penza Oblast Vasily Bochkarev. Managed her family's lumber-processing and bakery businesses14 July 20231 Moscow Found dead inside her apartment.[47]
Anton Cherepennikov40Billionaire owner and head of state-affiliated company Citadel specializing in digital wiretapping equipment and telecommunications monitoring technology, sanctioned by the US in February 2023[48] 22 July 20231 MoscowFound dead in his office.[49]
August
Gennady Lopyrev69Former lieutenant-general in the FSO and overseer of various construction projects, including Putin's palace at Gelendzhik, near Sochi. Imprisoned in the IK-3 prison in 2017 for taking bribes, charges he denied in 2016.[50] 16 August 20231 IK-3 prison colony, Ryazan OblastDied of leukemia two days after diagnosis. News agencies reported no previous signs of the illness.
Yevgeny Prigozhin62Russian oligarch, mercenary, Wagner Group co-founder and leader, and former close confidant of Russian president Vladimir Putin until he launched a brief rebellion on 23 June 2023, exactly two months prior.23 August 202310 Kuzhenkino, Bologovsky District, Tver Oblast

See also: 2023 Wagner Group plane crash. An Embraer Legacy 600 business jet with registration number RA-02795 crashed during a regular high-altitude flight from Moscow to Saint Petersburg.[51] [52] Prigozhin, Utkin, and Chekalov were killed along with two Wagner veterans, two bodyguards, and the three flight staff.[53] According to Wagner Group, the plane was shot down by air defenses,[54] however according to the US government and aviation experts, the plane was downed by a bomb onboard or other sabotage.[55] [56] [57] [58] [59]

Dmitry Utkin53Former special forces officer in the GRU, co-founder of Wagner Group, recipient of four Orders of Courage of Russia.
Valery Chekalov47Russian Navy veteran, Wagner Group's head of security and foreign logistics that managed several front companies to coordinate activities in Libya and Syria.
October
Vladimir Nekrasov66Chairman of LukoilOctober1Died of acute heart failure.[60]
November
Vladimir Sviridov68Former lieutenant-general of the 6th Air and Air Defence Forces Army, recipient of Order of the Red Star.November 20232 Andzhievsky, Stavropol KraiFound dead at home with his wife.[61] [62]
December
Evgeny Postrigan50Chief accountant at sanctioned Information Satellite Systems ReshetnevDecember 20231 Zheleznogorsk, SiberiaFound dead at the garage of his property, cause of death asphyxiation.[63]
Vladimir Egorov46Politician and oil businessesman in Tobolsk.27 December 20231Tobolsk, Tyumen OblastFound dead in the yard of his home from suspected three-story fall from building.[64]

2024

NameAge at deathPositionDate of deathCount of deathsPlace body was discoveredCircumstances
January
Zoya Konovalova48Editor-in-chief of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Kuban5 January 20242 Krasnodar KraiDied alongside her ex-husband in a suspected poisoning incident.[65]
February
Ivan Sechin35Employee of Rosneft. Son and heir apparent of Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin5 February 20241 MoscowComplained of kidney pain at his home mansion overnight and died within hours after ambulances failed to arrive in time, due to the security service providing the wrong address. Cause of death officially diagnosed as a blood clot. His father, Igor Sechin, blamed the Rosneft security service. The Daily Beast called it "bizarre circumstances".[66]
March
Vitaly Robertus53Vice president of Lukoil13 March 20241 MoscowReportedly committed suicide. He was found hanged in his Moscow office on 13 March 2024.[67] [68] [69]
May
Aleksandr Surikov68Ambassador to Mozambique11 May 20241 MaputoFound dead at his home. Russian authorities denied a request for an autopsy from Maputo Central Hospital. An unsubstantiated report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via TASS listed the preliminary cause of death as a stroke.[70] [71]
June
Natalia Larina50Judge5 June 20241 MoscowFound dead after falling from her apartment in a high-rise building in Moscow 2024.[72]
July
Valentina Bondarenko82Economist23 July 20241 MoscowFound dead after falling out of the window of her Moscow-area apartment building.[73]
Georgy Chibisov44Marketing Director of the Moscow Exchange27 July 20241 Moskva river near MoscowFound drowned in the river after falling off of a cruise ship while trying to use its diving platform alone.[74]

See also

Assassinations and assassination attempts

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Godfrey . Elaine . 29 December 2022 . Sudden Russian Death Syndrome . 2022-12-30 . The Atlantic . en . 30 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221230043054/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/12/russian-tycoon-pavel-antov-dies-putin-ukraine/672601/ . live .
  2. Web site: Sudden fatalities and falling from windows: The high-profile suspicious Russian deaths since the invasion of Ukraine . 30 June 2023 . 7 July 2023 . 7 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230707162358/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/full-list-suspicious-russian-deaths/ . live .
  3. Web site: Создатель Forex Club Вячеслав Таран погиб при крушении вертолета в Монако . 28 November 2022 . Forex Club founder Vyacheslav Taran died in a helicopter crash in Monaco . 27 January 2023 . 27 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127222217/https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2022/11/28/952413-sozdatel-forex-club-vyacheslav-taran-pogib . live .
  4. Web site: Kirby . Paul . Ravil Maganov: Russian Lukoil chief dies in 'fall from hospital window' . BBC . 31 December 2022 . 1 September 2022 . 1 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220901084707/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62750584 . live .
  5. Web site: Roscoe . Matthew . Russia's State Duma Deputy Nikolai Petrunin dies suddenly aged 46 . Euro Weekly News . 12 October 2022 . 2023-01-08 . 29 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221129123541/https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/10/12/state-duma-deputy-nikolai-petrunin-dies-suddenly/ . live .
  6. Web site: Liesenborghs . Gilles . Covid-complicaties of toch doelgericht? 'Wéér een steenrijke Poetin-vertrouweling gestorven' – Buitenland – Telegraaf.nl . Telegraaf . 14 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221016024331/https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1650970160/covid-complicaties-of-toch-doelgericht-weer-een-steenrijke-poetin-vertrouweling-gestorven . 2022-10-16 . dead . nl . 2023-01-08.
  7. Web site: Создатель Forex Club Вячеслав Таран погиб при крушении вертолета в Монако . 28 November 2022 . Forex Club founder Vyacheslav Taran died in a helicopter crash in Monaco . 27 January 2023 . 27 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127222217/https://www.vedomosti.ru/society/news/2022/11/28/952413-sozdatel-forex-club-vyacheslav-taran-pogib . live .
  8. Web site: Russian cryptocurrency billionaire killed in helicopter crash. 29 November 2022. NY Post. 2022-12-18. 18 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221218135206/https://nypost.com/2022/11/29/russian-billionaire-vyacheslav-taran-killed-in-helicopter-crash/. live.
  9. News: Імаверная прычына смерці Уладзіміра Макея — суіцыд . . 2023-02-19 . 2023-02-21 . be-BY . 5 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705193910/https://nashaniva.com/310567 . live .
  10. Web site: Belarusian foreign minister died by suicide after meeting Putin's officials: report. MSN. 22 February 2023. 22 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230222025020/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/belarusian-foreign-minister-died-by-suicide-after-meeting-putin-s-officials-report/ar-AA17LjCT?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=f081c87341944c59a127e991b6e35a26. live.
  11. News: Pierini . Simone . 9 December 2022 . Direttore creativo precipita e muore in Russia durante una perquisizione in casa. "False accuse di pedofilia, era contro la guerra" . Creative director crashes and dies in Russia during a house search. "False accusations of pedophilia, he was against the war" . 2023-01-09 . . it . 18 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221218135207/https://www.ilgazzettino.it/esteri/grigory_kochenov_precipita_muore_russia_contro_guerra_cosa_sappiamo_davvero-7103592.html . live .
  12. Web site: Baza: Бывший миллиардер Дмитрий Зеленов скончался во Франции. . Baza: Former billionaire Dmitry Zelenov dies in France . 2022-12-18. ru. 17 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221217212532/https://vm.ru/news/1019598-baza-byvshij-milliarder-dmitrij-zelenov-skonchalsya-vo-francii. live.
  13. Web site: McDougall . AJ . Houghtaling . Ellie Quinlan . Another Russian Oligarch, Dmitry Zelenov, Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances . Daily Beast . 19 December 2022 . 18 December 2022 . 19 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221219012644/https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-oligarch-dmitry-zelenov-dies-after-mysterious-fall-down-stairs . live .
  14. Web site: Two Russian men's deaths at Odisha hotel spark mystery, speculation . 2022-12-28 . India Today . 27 December 2022 . en . 28 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221228113626/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/russian-men-deaths-odisha-hotel-pavel-antov-valdimir-bidenov-mystery-2314055-2022-12-27 . live .
  15. Web site: Indian police probe deaths of Russian lawmaker Pavel Antov and companion Vladimir Bidenov . . Agence France-Presse . 17 February 2023 . December 27, 2022 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217215149/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3204717/indian-police-probe-deaths-russian-lawmaker-pavel-antov-and-companion-vladimir-bidenov . live .
  16. Web site: Russian Admiralty Shipyards head Alexander Buzakov dies — corporation. 24 December 2022. TASS. 2022-12-25. en. 24 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221224234418/https://tass.com/russia/1555555. live.
  17. Web site: Vice-President of "Vladmirsky Standart" company and MP of Vladimir legislative assembly Pavel Antov has died after falling out of the window of hotel in Rayagada, Odisha, India Rayagada,Odisha. Map of Latest News and incidents from Russia in English - russia.liveuamap.com. 26 December 2022. 26 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221226144217/https://russia.liveuamap.com/en/2022/26-december-vicepresident-of-vladmirsky-standart-company. live.
  18. News: Russian sausage tycoon dies after falling from hotel in India . . Clarire . Parker . Francesca . Ebel . 27 December 2022 . 27 December 2022 . 27 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221227174915/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/27/pavel-antov-russia-sausage-tycoon-hotel-death-india/ . live .
  19. Web site: Dias . Avani . Patidar . Som . Indian police launch criminal investigation into mysterious death of Russian oligarch . ABC News Australia . 31 December 2022 . 28 December 2022 . 31 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231051938/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-29/indian-police-investigate-russian-oligarch-death/101815414 . live .
  20. Web site: McFall . Caitlin . 28 December 2022 . Second sudden death of top official reported in Russia's military supply chain in less than a week . 2022-12-30 . Fox News . en-US . 30 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221230190915/https://www.foxnews.com/world/second-sudden-death-top-official-reported-russia-military-supply-chain-less-week . live .
  21. Web site: Quinn . Allison . Second Russian Defense Sector Bigwig Dies in Two Days . The Daily Beast . 31 December 2022 . 29 December 2022 . 30 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221230231741/https://www.thedailybeast.com/alexei-maslov-is-second-russian-defense-sector-bigwig-to-die-in-two-days . live .
  22. Web site: 2022-12-30 . Mysteriöse Todesfälle: Vier hochrangige Russen seit Weihnachten gestorben . 2023-08-30 . www.fr.de . de.
  23. News: 5 January 2023. В Махачкале после наезда автомобиля погиб экс-председатель правительства Дагестана . Former Prime Minister of Dagestan dies after being hit by a car in Makhachkala . Russian. TASS. 6 January 2023. 6 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230106003531/https://tass.ru/proisshestviya/16747435. live.
  24. Web site: Roscoe . Matthew . Former Russian Roscosmos manager burned alive in mystery fire at Moscow apartment . Euro Weekly News . 30 January 2023 . 26 January 2023 . 28 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230128184731/https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/01/26/roscosmos-manager-dead-fire-moscow/ . live .
  25. Web site: Sacked Russian Police General Found Dead in Apparent Suicide . The Moscow Times . 14 February 2023 . 14 February 2023 . 14 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230214102208/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/02/14/sacked-russian-police-general-found-dead-in-apparent-suicide-a80218 . live .
  26. Web site: Nianias . Helen . Russian Police Chief Found Dead at Home Weeks After Putin Fired Him . Vice News . 17 February 2023 . February 15, 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217032700/https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5v497/vladimir-makarov-russia-police . live .
  27. Web site: Top Putin defence official falls to her death . news.com.au . 16 February 2023 . 16 February 2023.
  28. Web site: Musumeci . Natalie . A top Russian military official is dead after falling out of a 16th-floor window, the latest in a string of untimely deaths . Insider . 17 February 2023 . February 16, 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217011233/https://www.businessinsider.com/top-russian-military-official-dies-fall-window-high-rise-2023-2 . live .
  29. Web site: Russian official falls from 16th-floor window in another suspicious death . The Jerusalem Post . 17 February 2023 . February 17, 2023 . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217130811/https://www.jpost.com/international/article-731914 . live .
  30. Web site: Stewart . Will . Ex-KGB spy found dead in mysterious circumstances in Moscow . Euro Weekly News . 24 February 2023 . 24 January 2023 .
  31. Web site: Ex-partner of Yeltsin's son-in-law businessman Vyacheslav Rovneiko was found dead in the Moscow region. This is the eighth death of top managers . Russian Free Press . 24 February 2023 . 23 January 2023 . 24 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230224231011/https://russianfreepress.com/2023/02/23/ex-partner-of-yeltsins-son-in-law-businessman-vyacheslav-rovneiko-was-found-dead-in-the-moscow-region-this-is-the-eighth-death-of-top-managers/ . live .
  32. Web site: Naylor . Aliide . Yakutskenergo energy boss found dead in Siberian jail cell . The Times . 7 April 2023 . 6 April 2023 . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406233930/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yakutskenergo-energy-boss-found-dead-in-siberian-jail-cell-bjxnn936s . live .
  33. Web site: State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Pyotr Alexandrovich Kucherenko died . 22 May 2023 . 22 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522172621/https://minobrnauki.gov.ru/press-center/news/novosti-ministerstva/68156/ . live .
  34. Web site: Death of Russian minister on return from Cuba is latest unexplained incident involving Moscow's elites . Kottasová . Ivana . 23 May 2023 . CNN . 23 May 2023 . 23 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230523141952/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/23/europe/russia-minister-dies-falling-ill-on-plane-intl/index.html . live .
  35. Web site: Russia Official Dies After Falling Ill on Flight From Cuba . Champion . Matthew . 23 May 2023 . Newsweek . 23 May 2023 . 22 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522234916/http://www.newsweek.com/russia-official-dies-kucherenko-1801823 . live .
  36. Web site: Another Russian Official Mysteriously Falls From Window to His Death . . 8 June 2023 . 17 August 2024 . 8 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608180900/https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-death-mysterious-bartenev-1805318 . live .
  37. Web site: Another Russian Official Mysteriously Falls From Window to His Death . . 8 June 2023 . 8 June 2023 . 8 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608180900/https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-death-mysterious-bartenev-1805318 . live .
  38. Web site: The judge of the Kirov court of Kazan died in a fall from the 12th floor . 8 June 2023 . 8 June 2023 . 8 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608180901/https://www.idelreal.org/a/32449999.html . live .
  39. Web site: Russia thermonuclear bomb scientist dies, Putin boosts nuke force. 22 June 2023. Aljazeera. 22 June 2023. 22 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230622091040/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/22/russia-thermonuclear-bomb-scientist-dies-putin-boosts-nuke-force. live.
  40. Web site: Создатель первой термоядерной бомбы покончил с собой в Москве. Regnum. Russian. 21 June 2023. 21 June 2023. 21 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230621115632/https://regnum.ru/news/3814609. live.
  41. Web site: Кто Кристина Байкова и как погибла. Kliker. Russian. 29 June 2023. 29 June 2023. 29 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230629135027/https://kliker.com.ua/kto-kristina-bajkova-i-kak-pogibla/. live.
  42. News: 1 July 2023. Источник: прокурор Чувашии Андрей Фомин умер во время заплыва по Волге. Russian. RIA Novosti. 6 July 2023. 5 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705163314/https://ria.ru/20230701/prokuror-1881652904.html. live.
  43. News: 1 July 2023. Chuvash Republic prosecutor dies while swimming across Volga. English. Meduza. 6 July 2023. 5 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705204846/https://meduza.io/en/news/2023/07/02/chuvash-republic-prosecutor-dies-while-swimming-across-volga. live.
  44. News: 4 July 2023. Умер министр транспорта и коммуникаций Беларуси Алексей Авраменко. Minister of Transport and Communications of Belarus Aleksey Avramenko dies. Russian. BelTA. 6 July 2023. 5 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705221156/https://www.belta.by/society/view/umer-ministr-transporta-i-kommunikatsij-belarusi-aleksej-avramenko-575320-2023/. live.
  45. News: Martin. Fornusek. 4 July 2023. Belarusian Transport Minister dies at 46. English. The Kyiv Independent. 6 July 2023. 5 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230705193931/https://kyivindependent.com/belarusian/. live.
  46. Web site: Russian diplomat found 'bludgeoned to death' is latest Putin goon to suffer mysterious end . 13 July 2023 . 14 July 2023 . 14 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230714082751/https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/13/russian-diplomat-latest-to-suffer-mysterious-death-after-beating-near-home-19124632/?ico=trending-module_category_news_item-0 . live .
  47. News: Tajemnicza śmierć córki byłego rosyjskiego gubernatora- WP Wiadomosci . pl-PL . wiadomosci.wp.pl . 2023-07-15 . 15 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230715013837/https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/tajemnicza-smierc-corki-bylego-rosyjskiego-gubernatora-6919683865971552a?amp=1 . live .
  48. News: Cracking Down on Dissent, Russia Seeds a Surveillance Supply Chain . en-US . www.nytimes.com . 3 July 2023 . 2023-07-22 . Krolik . Aaron . Mozur . Paul . Satariano . Adam . 22 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230722103644/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/03/technology/russia-ukraine-surveillance-tech.html . live .
  49. News: U.S.-Sanctioned Russian Millionaire Found Dead In His Office . en-US . www.rferl.org . 2023-07-24 . 24 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230724123224/https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-millionaire-found-dead-moscow-office/32514748.html . live .
  50. News: Russian general who knew 'secrets' of Putin's palace dies suddenly in prison . en-US . www.telegraph.co.uk . 18 August 2023 . 2023-08-19 . Kilner . James . 19 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230819110141/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/18/russian-general-secrets-putin-palace-dies/ . live .
  51. Web site: Yevgeny Prigozhin was passenger on crashed plane, Russian officials say . Financial Times . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23 . 23 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823172612/https://www.ft.com/content/812c9da3-80f2-4fe1-8fad-0b4441d1977a . live .
  52. Web site: Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin 'on passenger list' . Sky News . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23 . 23 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823171144/https://news.sky.com/story/ten-killed-in-private-jet-crash-north-of-moscow-wagner-leader-yevgeny-prigozhin-on-passenger-list-12946006 . live .
  53. News: 23 August 2023 . Passenger plane crashes in Russia, Wagner chief Prigozhin possibly on board . 1 September 2023 . . 24 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230824013751/https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/08/23/passenger-plane-crashes-in-russia-wagner-chief-prigozhin-possibly-on-board-en-news . live.
  54. Web site: Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin feared dead after Russia plane crash . BBC News . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23 . 23 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230823171520/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66599733 . live . None of this, of course, is proof that Prigozhin and his entourage were deliberately targeted. But given the circumstances any claims that his demise, if confirmed, was an accident will see a lot of eyebrows raised..
  55. Web site: Friday Briefing: U.S. Believes Prigozhin Was Killed . . Justin . Porter . August 24, 2023 . 2023-08-29.
  56. News: Prigozhin most likely dead, and an explosion may have downed his plane, U.S. officials say . . Niha . Masih . August 24, 2023 . 2023-08-29.
  57. Web site: Smith . Benedict . Yevgeny Prigozhin killed in plane crash near Moscow says Russialive updates . The Telegraph . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23.
  58. Web site: Wagner Chief Prigozhin Among 10 Dead In Russia Jet Crash . I24news . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23.
  59. Web site: Wagner Group chief among passengers on crashed plane near Moscow . The Jerusalem Post . 2023-08-23 . 2023-08-23.
  60. News: Soldatkin . Vladimir . Chairman of Russia's oil major Lukoil dies suddenly aged 66 . 21 November 2023 . Reuters . 24 October 2023.
  61. News: van Brugen . Isabel . Russia's Former Top Air Defense Commander Dies Mysteriously . 16 November 2023 . Newsweek . 16 November 2023.
  62. News: Quinn . Alison . Russian General Who Lambasted Armed Forces Under Putin Suffers Mystery Death . 16 November 2023 . The Daily Beast . 16 November 2023.
  63. Web site: Russian satellite company boss who 'knew state secrets' found dead . 18 December 2023.
  64. News: van Brugen . Isabel . 28 December 2023 . Putin Ally Found Dead After Falling From Third Floor Window: Reports . . 28 December 2023.
  65. Web site: 2024-01-08 . Mystery as top Putin propagandist found dead after suspected "poisoning" . 2024-01-08 . Newsweek . en.
  66. Web site: Putin Ally's Son Drops Dead at 35 in Bizarre Circumstances . . . Allison . Quinn . 20 February 2024 .
  67. Web site: Fourth Exec at Russian Oil Giant Lukoil Dies 'Suddenly'. The Daily Beast. Allison. Quinn. 13 March 2024.
  68. Web site: Vice President of Russian energy company dies 'suddenly' of suicide. Euronews. 14 March 2024.
  69. Web site: Putin Ally Found 'Hanged' in Own Office: Reports. Newsweek. Isabel. van Brugen. 14 March 2024.
  70. Web site: Bridger . Bianca . 2024-05-12 . Russian Ambassador to Mozambique Found Dead at his Maputo Home Atlas News . 2024-06-07 . en-US.
  71. Web site: Mwambia . Purity . 2024-05-21 . 'Sudden Russian death syndrome' strikes Mozambique ambassador, Russian MFA adds mystery . 2024-06-07 . POLYGRAPH.info . en.
  72. Web site: Mystery as Russian judge dies after falling from window . . 6 June 2024.
  73. Web site: Top Russian Economist Dies After Falling out of Window . . 24 July 2024.
  74. Web site: Top Moscow Exchange Manager Drowns in Latest Mystery Death . . 31 July 2024.